Writer Nick Carr of the Huffington Post site lists his choices for the best horror films set in New York City. We only take issue with the inclusion of Wait Until Dark, which is more a thriller than a horror film. On the other hand, Carr is canny enough to include the original Planet of the Apes, although, again, this is a sci-fi film rather than a horror movie. Check out the list and see if you concur with Carr's opinion.Â
Cinema Retro London correspondent Adrian Smith with Hammer actress Vera Day.
By Adrian Smith
If you’re in
London during the next two weeks, be sure to check out this fabulous new
festival and exhibition based on Hammer’s legendary horror films.The event was
launched on the 27th October at the Idea Generation gallery in
Shoreditch, to which Cinema Retro was invited. We were told it was a private
view of this exhibition of previously unseen photos and artwork, along with
more well known stills and publicity photos. However, it was the most public
“private view†we have ever seen. This could have been down to a resurgence in
the popularity of Hammer, tied in with new film production, or it could have
been the endless bottles of free cider.
Several
Hammer-related guests were in attendance, including Paul Cole, John Hough, Lois
Dane, Madeline Smith, Vera Day and Valerie Leon. The latter were also there to
help promote the new book Hammer Glamour by Marcus Hearn. Hearn has co-curated
the exhibition, which is well worth a look. Also in attendance was the CEO of
the new Hammer, Simon Oakes.
Sadly, by the time
Cinema Retro found the venue, hidden down some of the scariest back streets in
East London, most of these guests had moved on to a secret party somewhere, but
we did manage to catch up with the still glamorous Vera Day. She is best known
for her starring roles in Quatermass II
and some of the Hammer comedies. It was also fun to chat with Paul Cole, who
enjoyed telling us about his appearance in Carry
on Teacher, before moving into television production.
Here at Cinema Retro we can take heart that not all
film-makers today see fit to churn out 'blockbuster' fooder for teens with the
attention span of a nano-second. Coming to UK cinemas in November is the new
Michael Caine film Harry Brown, and it's getting rave reviews
everywhere. At last, a film starring mature actors in the leading roles, and a
storyline that has, well, a story!
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Described as a "modern urban western" the titular Harry
Brown (Caine) is an elderly widower and former Royal Marine who has lived to see
his neighbourhood overrun by violent gangs, drugs and crime. When his best
friend Leonard is brutally murdered and the gang leader responsible walks free,
Harry finds himself snapping. Soon, his desire for revenge leads to the unlikely
vigilante facing up to the young thugs, with terrifying results.
Â
Last year Clint Eastwood resurrected his Dirty Harry
character in Gran Torino. This year Caine gives us Jack Carter 40 years
on, and judging by the trailer it seems the 76 year-old actor is still the 'King
of Cool'.
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I hadn't paid much attention to this film until I was alerted to the great buzz it has been getting by my 22 year-old son, who is
currently at university. How many films made today will have youngsters offering
to taking their parents to see a film, rather than the other way around? This
one will.